Texas Monthly executive editor Skip Hollandsworth, an award-winning journalist and screenwriter, is most widely known for co-writing the Richard Linklater movie Bernie, which depicts the 1996 Carthage, Texas murder of an 82-year-old woman by her 39-year-old companion, Bernhardt “Bernie” Tiede. Recently, Edgemere senior living community welcomed Hollandsworth for a special presentation to residents and invited guests about the exciting experience of taking his 1998 article in Texas Monthly, titled “Midnight in the Garden of East Texas,” and helping to transform it into a major motion picture starring Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey and Shirley MacLaine. A special Q&A and book signing took place immediately following Hollandsworth’s presentation.

“Skip is not only a great writer but also a great entertainer,” said Vanessa Curtright, Director of Sales and Marketing at Edgemere. “He had the whole crowd engaged the entire time. Hearing the story first hand from the man who brought it to life was so intriguing.”

In addition to relating the story of how the movie Bernie came to fruition, Hollandsworth gave updates on the current status of the case, which recently took a turn that only seems fitting for a Hollywood movie. Tiede, originally sentenced to life in prison for murder, was released just last year and is now a free man living in the garage apartment behind Richard Linklater’s house in Austin. Linklater, whose latest movie Boyhood was a frontrunner to win Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards, has always been an advocate for Tiede. Hollandsworth has been following the case from day one and will provided all of the unbelievable twists and turns this story keeps churning out, continuing to this day to divide the town of Carthage.   

ABOUT EDGEMERE

The community is located in the Preston Hollow/Park Cities area at 8523 Thackery Street at Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75225. For information, call (469) 619-0825 or visit www.edgemeredallas.com.